A rare genius.
The strongest heroine.
The best supporter.
All these titles were for her, Emma. She had countless other nicknames, but these were the main ones used even in the story, clearly indicating her exceptional talent as a hero.
When she, a commoner, entered Academia, she amazed everyone. Everyone recognized her talent. Not only the students but also the professors and even the church had high expectations for her.
-Emma will be the leader of this generation. She will protect everyone and become the hope of humanity.
In reality, as time passed, she began to soar higher than anyone else, as if spreading her magnificent and large wings to reach the sun.
Higher, higher.
Very high.
However, no one knew. They didn't know that the wings she spread this time were made of wax.
As she flew, unaware of the dangers of the sky, her wings melted completely before reaching the sun.
The first field training.
The first time she encountered the red monsters she spoke of. She was paired with the protagonist, Leon, and took the rear as the team's mage.
Knowing her trauma, Leon tried his best to prevent her from encountering the monsters, running around tirelessly.
But there was a limit. Even though Leon was growing rapidly like Emma, he wasn't strong enough to protect everyone.
Eventually, the monsters reached Emma's position. Unaware of her past, everyone expected great things from her. There were no worries because she was a genius. Everyone thought so.
But...
The outcome was disastrous.
Ironically, Emma, the genius heralded as the promising new-generation hero, in the face of the monsters—
*⎯Kyaaah!*
She crouched down, trembling, unable to do anything.
Because of this, her team received the lowest scores. Except for Leon, no one had expected this.
Who would have thought she was afraid of monsters? Everyone was shocked. And that shock turned into mockery.
From then on, she gained new titles—a shadowy past behind the glorious honor.
Coward.
Nuisance.
All show and no substance.
These were not titles but rather disgraceful insults.
Fortunately, as the story progressed, she gradually overcame her trauma and became a protector who defended everyone. But it took a year to reach that point.
A year.
A year was too long to be considered preparation time. No matter how much of a genius she was, waiting that long was not an option.
Therefore, I brought Emma here and taught her magic and swordsmanship. I waited for this day when Lubid Village was destroyed, with all conditions set.
I didn't know how many times she had died so far. I couldn't intervene while she was trapped in there.
I only knew about the moment she escaped. When all the livestock I prepared die, she could break free from the cycle of repetition.
Her trauma was severe, and I had been awakening it with nightmares recently, so it would work even more effectively.
She might lose her mind and collapse without being able to do anything. If that happened, it would be unfortunate, but I would discard Emma and choose another plan. She was not the only option.
Would Emma be able to maintain her sanity until all the livestock die? She had been given the strength to withstand them to some extent. I had done all I could for her.
What remained was...
Up to her.
***
There was no time to understand the situation.
The monster began to move again with a displeased expression.
Whether she had gone mad or was truly trapped in a nightmare, she didn't know, but she felt certain that if she didn't move now, she would die in agony like before.
'Hehehe.'
'See, what did I tell you?'
'Don't try to make excuses for not doing anything back then. Just be honest with your feelings.'
'You didn't do anything back then. Why?'
'Because you were scared.'
'You're just a coward who can't do anything.'
'Why so many excuses for someone who hid in the warehouse to save herself?'
"Cowardly Little Sister."
Emma saw her image. Although she appeared as she did on the last day they met, her voice was not as kind as always.
The emotions contained were anger and ridicule.
Fourteen-year-old Isabella was mocking Emma's appearance.
The monster passed by Isabella. Her image flickered and disappeared like a mirage. Emma's face and the monster's face were close.
"Ah, aah…!"
Unable to face it properly, Emma tried to push the monster away with her hands but only ended up retreating. Run, she had to run away. She had to escape!
In this way, her thin legs, which showed no sign of moving in the previous death, started to move.
As if granting her desperate wish, her legs finally obeyed her. They were shaking violently like quaking aspen, but Emma could now run.
[Krrrr?]
The monster noticed her change. What it thought was free prey, unable to move, now had legs capable of running. So, the monster had to act.
"…!"
*Swoosh!*
The monster's tentacle shot towards Emma's legs. As sharp and quick as a bee's sting. Emma sensed it and narrowly avoided it.
She succeeded in dodging the monster's attack. Her legs were moving. Now she just had to get out through that door…! But.
Thunk.
An inexplicable pain concentrated in her abdomen. It was more excruciating than any pain she had experienced so far.
Even though she had dodged the tentacle, why?
The question was quickly resolved. When she lifted her head, the monster showed a clear smile. It had more than one tentacle. Two. Two long ones were attached to its back.
"Gah…!"
Red blood spurted from Emma's mouth. The monster was covered in her blood, but it didn't wipe off its smile.
*Squirm.*
The tentacle that pierced through Emma's belly moved again. Perhaps to ensure its prey's death, it pulled out abruptly.
The blood that had been blocked by the monster's body gushed out simultaneously. Emma's vision began to darken again. She had barely started to move her legs and speak, but she could do nothing.
Emma's body collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness. And so, she met another unknown number of deaths.
Death continued without stopping.
Again, and again.
Again, and again.